The process of revealing one's sexual orientation to others, also known as "coming out," is an essential component in the identity integration of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals (Baiocco et al., 2015; Biswas & Chaudhuri, 2018). Coming out to family, especially to parents, is often the biggest challenge for LGB youth.  

This challenge can become even more compromising for LGB individuals living within a religious family. Although there are studies that ensure a positive relationship between various aspects of religion and/or spirituality and well-being, in the particular case of LGB individuals, who are stigmatized and discriminated against by many religions, this relationship becomes less clear (Fernandes, et al., 2023). 

Being part of a religious family can lead to personal identity conflicts for the LGB individual. Some, for example, may react to their own sexuality by rejecting their "religious identity." Others react by rejecting their "sexual identity." As an alternative to the contradiction between professed faith and sexual orientation, others decide to create a "spiritual identity" instead of a "religious identity" (Etengoff & Daiute, 2014). 

However, as Nielson (2017) points out, being a religious family does not in itself equate to propagating heterosexist messages, just as identifying as a sexual and gender minority (SGM) does not in itself equate to being anti-religious. In his study on Mormon families, Nielson argues that some parents not only accept their child's non-heterosexual orientation but also continue to nurture and maintain a strong, loving, and supportive relationship with that child. This demonstrates that family and religion can, in fact, serve as protective factors for LGB adolescents (Nielson, 2017). 

There are also studies that have investigated the religiosity of an LGB person and their decision to disclose their sexual orientation (Pastrana, 2015). Some researchers have not found an association between being religious and deciding to disclose sexual orientation, while others have found that it does increase the concern of LGB people about revealing their orientation (Schope, 2002). According to Pastrana (2015), younger LGB individuals are more concerned about their parents' religiosity and how this may negatively affect their reactions. Etengoff & Daiute (2015) assert that coming out to religious relatives can result in a loss of support, as the disclosure event can change family values, roles, expectations, and boundaries. 

A negative family reaction to the revelation of a child's LGB sexual orientation can have a harmful impact on the person's physical and psychological health, cause tension in family relationships, and generate interparental conflicts (Baiocco et al., 2015; Orcasita et al., 2020). On the other hand, a positive family reaction can lead to an increase in the self-esteem and mental health of LGB children, and improve their coping and resilience resources (Biswas & Chaudhuri, 2018; McConnell et al., 2016). Therefore, family acceptance and support become very important elements for the health and well-being of LGB individuals. As Pastrana (2015) argues, the more supported an LGB person feels by their family, the more likely they are to be "out" to numerous people in various social settings. 

Several studies have investigated the coming out process in religious families from the perspective of LGB individuals (Baiocco et al., 2015; Baptist, J. A., & Allen, K. R., 2008; Pistella et al., 2016), but few have done so from the parents' point of view. Based on a systematic review of studies from the last 10 years (2014-2024), this study aims to analyze, from an intercultural perspective, how religion influences the processes of acceptance of the sexual orientation of parents and/or other family members with LGB children. 

The present study emerges from a systematic review of the scientific literature using the PRISMA method, focusing on the experiences of parents of LGB children during the coming out process. The research targeted studies that included the perspectives of parents as part of the sample. The search was conducted in July and August 2024 across Scopus, Web of Science (WOS), and ERIC databases. The search terms used were: ("coming out" OR disclosure) AND ("sexual orientation" OR lgb OR lbg) AND (parent* OR family) AND (reaction OR acceptance OR support). The search was limited to articles published from 2014 onwards, yielding 127 results in Scopus, 218 in WOS, and 9 in ERIC. To screen the results, exclusion and inclusion criteria were established, such as the need for articles to contain empirical research (excluding reviews, single case studies, books, manuals, or theses/dissertations), be published between 2014 and 2024, focus on the disclosure processes from the perspective of parents and/or other relatives of LGB individuals, and include sexual orientation within these processes (lesbian, gay, and/or bisexual people). Finally, following specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, 21 articles were analyzed. Of all the articles analyzed in the systematic review, 10 articles addressed the role and influence of religion in the disclosure processes experienced by families. The 10 studies were conducted in United States (4), Italy (2), Hispanic countries, such as Colombia (1), Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela (1), the UK (1) and Israel (1). In terms of religion, the study included families who follow the doctrines of the Catholic, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches.

Within the literature, we can find various types of experiences of religious families and how they have coped with the disclosure of their children's sexual orientation. To begin with, it is important to highlight the idea that many times religious affiliation is linked to the causal attributions of parents. That is, those parents affiliated with a religious doctrine that opposes homosexuality and claims it is a matter of choice and sin, attribute their child's homosexuality to environmental causes and believe it is immutable. For these parents, the revelation can involve a struggle between the desire to accept their child and the possibility of committing a sin. This is why parents with strong religious beliefs may find themselves forced to reconsider their belief system or abandon it entirely if it does not accept their children, whom they choose to accept. There are other cases in which, although the revelation can lead to a change in decision-making for parents and other family members within religious communities, this does not necessarily mean a change in faith or religious beliefs. Conversely, some parents seek answers within their religious beliefs, while others find solace in meditation. There are cases where religious affiliation among families with a child who has come out can facilitate the acceptance process. These findings are consistent with the current literature on religion and coping, in which positive forms of religious coping (defined as those that are helpful) include seeking support and guidance from God and support from their congregation, including members and clergy. Some parents even formed support groups within their congregations, organized documentary screenings at their churches, participated in community events, and even took on leadership roles in PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).

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